Should You Buy Nioh 3?
The first must-play game of 2026 per critics. 94% OpenCritic recommendation. Best Nioh combat to date, new open-world structure, dual Samurai/Ninja stance system. If you've ever loved a soulslike, this is essential. If you don't, skip — it will punish you.
Quick Specs
What It Is
Nioh 3 is Team Ninja's third entry in their hardcore samurai soulslike series. You play a customizable 17th-century hero, Tokugawa Takechiyo, on the verge of being christened Japan's next Shogun before being betrayed by your jealous brother — who surrenders his soul to evil yokai and plunges the land into demonic chaos. Stop him by time-hopping across historical eras from early antiquity to the 19th century.
The big mechanical change is the new open-world structure (Team Ninja's first post-Elden Ring soulslike), and the dual Samurai/Ninja stance shift system — instantly swap between two completely different gameplay styles. Samurai retains the classic Nioh stance-switching and Ki Pulse stamina mechanic; Ninja adds aerial evasion, Mist (decoy clones), and Ninjutsu attacks.
Why Critics Are Calling It The Best Of The Year (So Far)
Tom's Guide called it 'the first must-play game of 2026.' Game Informer scored it 9/10 and called it 'a fantastic leap forward.' Insider Gaming gave it 9.5/10, putting it just behind Bloodborne in their soulslike rankings. The OpenCritic recommendation rate sits at 94%.
The praise centers on three things: combat that's potentially the best of any soulslike, the open-world design that feels meaningful (not the dead-space common in post-Elden Ring imitators), and the new Ninja stance which adds genuine variety to the Nioh formula. Steam concurrent players peaked at 88,000+ in week one — double Nioh 2's all-time record.
The Case For and Against
BUY IF...
- You've ever loved a soulslike (Dark Souls, Sekiro, Elden Ring, Lies of P)
- You want the best samurai combat available
- You like loot-driven progression on top of soulslike combat
- You're up for 40-80 hours of demanding content
- PS5 or PC are your platforms (no Xbox release)
SKIP IF...
- You want something to unwind with after work — this isn't it
- You bounced off Nioh 2 — the open-world won't fix the underlying difficulty
- You play on Xbox (no release announced)
- Cinematic narrative matters more than combat depth
- You wait for sales — Team Ninja games hold price longer than most
Price & Value Math
$69.99 standard, with a Digital Deluxe Edition at $109 that includes Season Pass and bonus weapons. For 40-80 hours of dense content with high replay value (NG+, build variety, co-op for up to 3 in Expeditions mode), the per-hour value math is strong. Team Ninja games historically hold price for 6-9 months — don't expect deep discounts before late 2026.
The Bottom Line
Nioh 3 is the best soulslike of 2026 so far and arguably the best Nioh ever made. If you're the right player for it, this is essential. If you're not — if soulslikes have always been a 'no thanks' for you — Nioh 3 won't change your mind. The open-world structure adds accessibility but the core combat still demands real commitment.
Ready to Decide?
If you're convinced, here's where to grab it:
CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON Also on eBay →As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner we earn from qualifying purchases.